Things That Make My Heart Sing

Life is pretty good for me at the moment. In recent years we have had a fair few downs, so I know that this is most definitely very good. As any parent with young children, I do have days when my mission is one of basic survival. If we're all still breathing at the end of the day and the house is still standing, then it's been a successful day. But mostly we enjoy life, dancing on the way.

There are a few things that make my life go from living to loving. Here are some of them.

Great Super Dooper Friends

When we moved house a little over a year ago, I left a few really good friendships behind. We moved back to Cheshire (Well, I did. My husband is a southern boy) and I knew that whilst I had friends here, the friendships wouldn't be the same as they were 5 years previously. To a certain degree I was right, but I didn't count on making and meeting some new super dooper friends too. Certain individuals have danced into my life and I am SO glad :) Seeing them is sure to brighten up any day and I count myself extremely blessed to know some really cool people.

A Little Bit Of Sunshine

Now, I know that we are not really able to change the weather but a few rays of sunshine on your face is likely to raise your mood by 97%*.

* I completely made that statistic up but believe it to be correct.

A Few of Lifes Luxuries

Whatever it is you like, have a little bit of. For me, it is proper coffee. Luxury doesn't have to mean expensive necessarily, but sometimes it's spending your time doing something that isn't strictly necessary. So taking 20 minutes out of your day to relax with a freshly brewed pot of coffee, when there are probably a billion-and-one things you could be doing, instantly chills me out. It doesn't matter that it's likely that I'll be sat enjoying my coffee in a room full of lego blocks, baby wipes and pink panther biscuit crumbs. It's the principal of taking time for yourself.

Baking

I learnt to bake because I love to eat. It's as simple as that. I read somewhere that people are usually great bakers or great cooks. You can be both of couse, but usually people have a preference. I can cook and I do enjoy it but my passion lies with baking. It doesn't matter what it is I could be making, but taking 5 or so ingredients, mixing them up and bunging them in the oven for a while and ending up with a cake or something is just magical. And a bit of science. But mostly magic.

Be The Child You Were

One of my friends recently said that how we can feel like a child trapped in a grown ups body. I feel like that a lot of the time! Seriously though, I think it's important to remember who we were before we had the stresses of adults. Some days when my house is a mess, I have ten loads of washing to do and I'm tired I imagine that really I'm a princess who is really just pretending to be a servant girl. It's the sort of game I might have played when I was 9 but doing it as an adult can make all sorts of things bareable!

So, go on, I dare you. Be your inner princess.

This Kind Of Map Reading I Can Do...

This is my new little sideline, Love Maps. Customised and totally personal to you. This design consists of 4 heart mini maps of locations of your choice. This is one we have hanging in our home. The maps are of where my husband and I first lived, London as we have had lots of dates and days out here, Rye where we spent our honeymoon and Cornwall where we had a lovely little family holiday last year. It's totally personal to us and encaptures so many memories. 

The box frame shown is 10x10 and £12 + p&p. I have other size frames and price differs, I also have different designs. Please contact me on mrs.cole@hotmail.co.uk if you would like to order. I

The Best Thing I Ever Made

I am ever so very sorry. I have once again neglected you, my poor bloggy wog. I've been very busy making something that I adore...

He's just super and melts my heart. We've also had a house move and bit of a relocation. I've just been caught up in life and in a little bubble of baby bliss. With my eldest son I suffered from post-natal depression for 4 years, luckily I have been happier than ever this time so I really feel able to enjoy the baby stuff this time around. I've still been making though, just not blogging!

Appliqued Cards

I'd wanted to try to make an appliqued card for a while but for some reason had always put it to the back of my 'project to do list'. I think I'd overcomplicated it in my mind. I made this card rather by accident I must admit. Having completed sewing a bag for a friend's birthday I realised I hadn't  actually got a card for her! As I had my sewing machine out and a selection of fabrics I quickly whipped up this.

When I said I quickly made this, I mean less than five minutes. And that is from the first thought to the finished product. I just used the regular foot on my machine, possibly not as easy as a free hand foot but I don't have one of those..yet. 

Going back to my favourite nature theme I cut out a random petal heart shape for the flower and just made it up as I went along. I think sometimes the most simplistic images, which are a little rough round the edges are the most effective. One thing I did find really helpful was a little pritt stick for the fabric to just hold it in place whilst I sewed along the edges, a wet glue would have soaked through, I just needed to tack it.  The little bee adds a cutesy touch. I did colour some stripes on the bee with a gold pen.

Now I know how simple it is I will be making lots more of these! I'm thinking maybe collections of cards. Different flowers, seasons, even insects?! I used this as a birthday card but it could be used for any occasion. Has anybody else in blogworld tried this charming past time?

The Queen's Jubilee

So, ever since Wills & Kate got hitched last year I have been a massive fan of our royal family. Living in a small English village in the middle of the countryside I have realised the importance of community. Also, living 30 minutes away from London, I do feel rather attached to The City. Together with some close neighbours we are holding a jubilee street party, only as you can only close side streets and culdesac, we are holding the party in our front garden which is huge and has views of our 900 year old church. Quite astmospheric.

Planning is already under way since it's only about 6 weeks away. I thought I would show you some jubilee inspiration that I have found around the web as I did my own party research. Are you celebrating the jubilee?

 

 

I'm thinking vintage garden party with the odd union jack themed accessory! Keeping it tasteful rather than garish! The picture on the bottom is the road I live on. If you look closely you will see the house beyond the tudor houses with a brick wall, that's mine! All photo credits are listed below. I'd love to hear if and how you will be spending the jubilee weekend!


Picture credits: http://vintageamethyst.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/royal-wedding-decor-ideas.html, http://roomenvy.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/garden-ideas-pretty-pastels/, http://www.teacupsandtiaras.co.uk/littlevintageteaparty.html, http://zinawright.typepad.com/messyart/party-ideas/page/2/, http://www.dovetail-design.co.uk/vintage_tea_party,http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1281365

Ribbons, Trims and Projects on the Go

So I've generally been a bit caught up in life recently - who hasn't?! I've been busy buying, planning and making though so not all has been lost! I seem to have a little issue though with buying ribbons and trims. I buy them because I love them but yet nothing much seems to happen with them and I take them out only to admire them! It's a good job the husband is neither interested or even pretends to care at my shopping habits! Hooray for that.

I just thought I'd show you a selection of my favourite bits. Some jubilee themed from my Lovely Mama, some sparkley and some just because. If anybody has any suggestions on what I could do with them, I'd love to hear them! I've also started Quilt Number Two.

Just thought you could see a work in progress. I've sewn roughly half the rows for the quilt. I did have the other half neatly arranged in order to be sewn but my darling child thought it would be fun to have a sort of confetti-throwing-but-really-using-quilting-squares play session. Still, at least he felt involved. Or something.

I've mentioned before that something which always inspired me is nature. I love bring the outdoors, in. A couple of summers ago I found some flat pebbles at the beach. They were fairly unremarkable as far as pebbles go but they stacked on top of each other really nicely. I carefully selected a few that decreased in size and took them home. I thought it would be a bit lovely to pretty them up a little so I decopatched them!

 It's a lovely activity to do with children too and toddlers love to stack them up different ways.

So, that's a little bit of what I've been doing just quietly getting on with.

Trees That Hold Hands

I absolutely love it when trees grow over and touch each other creating a tunnel. Since I was a child I had imagined that they were actually holding hands. When the sun shines it looks so magical but after dusk it changes dramatically and looks kind of eery. The second from bottom image is a tree tunnel shaped by trains in Ukraine! Apparently it's called The Tunnel of Love there...

A Cabin in the Woods & Other Inspirations

So, I've been thinking for a while about how I would love to go to Canada and live in a log cabin in the forest. A bear proof log cabin. Maybe with a gun. But then I figured I would really miss my family so decided that (frequent) a holiday('s) might be sufficient. But then I checked my bank balance (the dread) and came to the conclusion that a holiday to Canada would not be happening any time soon.

Looks pretty good, hey? I would have a little wooden fishing boat and wear a lot of plaid. 

These are some mountains in Banff I could ski down. But no matter how I present the idea of a trip to Canada to the Husband, we still can't afford to go. Yet. Cue another brainwave please...

Scotland.

It's a jolly sight closer. And cheaper! After spending a morning comparing images of Canada and Scotland I don't think you can really tell the difference, much. I have been to Scotland before and loved it but I still hadn't appreciated the beauty it really does have on offer. I am still planning on a Canadian holiday in a few years but I am totally ok with a Scottish substitute for now!


My tree quilt was stitched with a Canadian forest in mind. I find forests so inspiring, the range in height and colours of the trees and the trickling streams leading to massive huge lakes. I am planning some more projects of a forest theme.


What and where inspires you most? Would you be happy with a Scottish substitute?


xxx


p.s. this post is by no means sponsored by the Scottish tourist board!

A Very Clever Man & Other Things

So, as my earlier post mentioned, I've only gone and discovered quilting. Not what I would describe as 'fuddy-duddy' quilting but modern and beautiful quilting. Clean lines, simplistic yet complex and fabulous fabrics. To me that is a recipe for a wonderful quilt.

My main source of inspiration is a man called Kaffe Fassett. He is an amazing textile artist. Just google image him! As I am new (and slightly ignorant) to the world of quilting and fabrics I didn't realise that he also did a range of fabrics, which makes sense really. I only realised this when browsing his website and I saw that I had some of his fabric! I bought mine from Patch Fabric and  Haberdashery.


I was always slightly dubious about buying online as I wasn't sure if you could see the colours properly but in my experience of shopping at Patch, yes, yes you can! The fabric is of the best quality, orders are processed very quickly (I ordered at 3pm and received the order the next morning) and the fabric ranges are exactly the quirky and kooky style I favour.

How sweet is this Kaufman deer print? I unashamedly required that image from the Patch website. Here are some images of Kaffe's quilts to get you drooling...

Oh, the possibilities.

In which I get the quilting bug...

So I've had a long break and had a chance to figure out what it is exactly I want to do. Okay well, I'm still not certain on what I want to do long term, but short term I have got some fabulous projects to do!

I've given the commission work a long break. And actually, I feel happy about my decision not to return there - at least for now. I found my time was so taken up with trying to replicate somebody else's ideas that I didn't have time to dream up any of my ideas. I'll still sell what I do, and I will still personalise stuff, just not in the same way I was doing.

So the first project I started was this forest inspired tree quilt for my little Rory-kins. This little snap was taken 5 minutes ago on my iPhone as the boy was snuggled up watching Peppa Pig so not the best quality, I know! I need to get my camera and take some better pictures so you can see the colours.

I took my inspiration from the lovely Sharilyn at Lovely Design and this tutorial at The Purl Bee. I changed the original design to make it more my own. The only thing I kept was for obvious reasons the shape of the trees, the random placement of trees between the plain pieces and I loved the way the trees changed colour to reflect the seasons. I changed the size of the squares (mine are more rectangular) and the materials I used are, of course, different.

Whenever I saw quilts in the shop I always fancied one for my bed but always recoiled at the price. Having made one from scratch, I can see the prices are totally justified! This quilt has been 2 years in the making! It actually took me a year to find the quilting shop!! I had no idea it actually existed and spent so long trying to find green fat quaters I liked. But once I had started building the green fabric pile it got a lot easier. I did the majority of the work for this quilt in one week (the week before Christmas, no less) and for a first quilt I think I did pretty well!

I have even started colating more fabrics for the next quilt. A fabulous nautical affair in blues, whites and a dash of seaside-rock red. I can't wait to show you that. I also like the sound of an all white quilt, different whites and textures. Practical? No. Gorgeous? Oh yes! Think I have got the quilting bug.

 

Oh, Happy Days

As usual, I have been a tad busy to post on here.. I think it's a habit thing, maybe once I get into the swing of things I will get better and *might* start posting once a week?

Lots of things have been going on in my life and I can't wait to share! I need to get this holiday season out of the way and get some lovely posts up. One of the things I have been doing is a little sideline cupcake business. I find it so pleasurable, baking. I read somewhere that people are often either a chef or a baker, that it's quite unusual for somebody to be both an exceptional chef and baker. I feel that I am quite an accomplished cook but my heart lies with baking!

I keep seeing day courses to learn with a professional the art of cupcake decorating. It's quite expensive, around £200, but for a business type course apparently that is quite reasonable. I'd love to do that as although my cakes sell well, I'd love to have someone teach me the amazing stuff! It'd be an investment of course. I tell Mr C that most things are an investement. Not quite sure if he believes me...

In June I also planned and pulled off a double baby shower! It was such a good party and I felt so honoured to be able to serve the two lovely mummies-to-be in that way. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. DOH. I do have copies of the invites I designed so I'll try and dig those out for the next post. I'm planning another baby shower for November (yes planning has begun!) so I'll make sure to document that one! 

Anyway, I hope that you have been blessed with lazy summer days, you've laughed until your sides hurt, and you have eaten cake until you think you might pop! I know I have...!!

xxxx

P.S. I was a bit of a grump this morning until I went to a hoola hoop class at my gym with my Grandmother and her friend. Oh.My.Word. It was HILARIOUS!! Defo recommend if you need cheering up :)

Honey, I'm home!

Well, I've not blogged in practically a year! I have really missed blogging but I felt my blog had gotten a bit stale and I wasn't exactly sure what to do about it. Before my blog was just about making and sewing but there is so much more going on in my life! I wanted my blog to reflect me and all the things I love. 


So please, if anybody is out there still, don't give up on me!! I'm making changes (with the technical help of Mr C, he might not be aware of that yet though...) and planning all my new posts :) 


Jess xxx

 

What a Truly Great Week

What a lovely week it has been! My poor blog has been neglected as I've been in the garden all week making the most of the weather. Well, either the garden or a lovely new shop I found... It sells CK and Emma Bridgewater and all the lovely stuff I, well, love. Today this bag just hopped onto Master C's pram and demanded to be taken home. It was only £5 and it is EB and in keeping with the union jack trend so really it would have been rude not to.

 

Also this week I have been building. My fabric stash that is! Ooops...

I've gone Grandma-Chic and love it! Loving the florals at the moment. The candy stripe stuff was a CS find, a lovely jacket that had it of been my size I would have kept in my wardrobe I think! I'd actually gone 'thrifting' for the first time when I picked this lot up, or that was the plan. I didn't find anything minus the shirt and a man's white linen shirt and was quite disappointed. I didn't find any of the wonderful things that the girls on SCC had blogged about!

I made these little flower yo-yo's with my new stash. I had never done them before and I knew they were meant to be easy, but not that easy! I love them. I'm going to turn them into hair clips and brooches. It's quite addictive, but I think it's because they are so quick and so many of my craft projects take so long, it's nice to see something come together immdiately.

I made them in the garden today whilst Master C was playing in his make shift paddling pool which is actually a long stacking box. It was so quick and easy to fill up that he might have that all summer. I also built him a tee pee...

 

That my runner beans have now adopted... Master C can actually run in and sit inside his den if he so desired. He actually prefers to shake the sticks so maybe this will be more suitable for next year? The pale pink hanging basket is Laura Ashley and comes in pale blue and green too, very cute.

Oh, and in between all of that I covered this lampshade for a friend for her little boy's room.

So this week has been satisfyingly good and I have enjoyed it :) x

Beach Huts Bag

So yesterday I got my new Clarke & Clarke fabric in the post and all day have been wondering what I can do with it. It's such a beautiful fabric that I really wanted to find the right make to show it off to it's best potential. I also wanted to make something that not only would be useful, but that would actually be used regularly.

Master C's new spare clothes bag.

Perfect for spare clothes, PE kits, bathrooms, hair bobbles, shoes, ribbon bags...the list goes on and on...

I love the beach houses and yachts and just looking at this makes me go all dreamy. It looks so pretty and whimsical just hanging on a door knob too. I love to make the everyday items just a little more lovely : )


xxx


I'll be making more of these and will have them for sale for:

Small £5.00
Large £6.50

Bunting, Beads & Beach Huts

Last week a friend asked me if I would make a piece of bunting for a new baby girl. All she said she wanted was something sweet and in pastel colours. I decided on a sweet bird idea and drew a free hand bird template. Sometimes when I try to overcomplicate things they tend to look a bit messy and the look I wanted was sleek and simple and hopefully something that could be kept and used for a few years at least!

The picture doesn't really do it justice but you get the general idea!

 Each bird has a tiny glass bead eye so they can see to catch all those worms...

A

On the back of one of the flags I stitched the baby's name on to make it more personal.

After the bunting some more post arrived for me...

O

One thousand buttons for hours of fun! I love to customise my makes with buttons but don't do so often because I bought my buttons from my local haberdashery shop at 10p each. It doesn't sound a lot but when you're making items to sell, those 10p's add up and it pushes the price up. Ebay is definitely the place to bulk buy buttons :)

I

 I also found this beauty. Lovely beach hut fabric from Clarke & Clarke. I'm not sure what to use this for - any ideas? I thought maybe some drawstring bags for boys (or girls), or maybe some cushions or even bunting although the pattern may not be shown to it's best advantage.

Have a lovely afternoon all, I am going to go and dream about beach huts by the sea...

xxx